Vietnamese Pangasius Production Affected by Export Market

VIET NAM - In the first half of 2015, pangasius farming area in Viet Nam's Mekong Delta was approximately 5,795 hectares, down 3.7 per cent year-on-year.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in quarter one and quarter two of 2015, pangasius production was affected by a decline in exports and unstable prices, reports VASEP.

Higher temperatures maintained over many days, causing disease in pangasius fish, is also a factor that discouraged farmers to rear the fish.

As a result, pangasius farming area decreased in some provinces. For instance, the area declined by 24.2 per cent in Hau Giang, by 26 per cent in Tien Giang and by 23.9 per cent in Ben Tre.

In the first half of 2015, pangasius production in Mekong Delta was 533,500 MT, flat from last year.

A representative of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said, “Farming area declined but the search for new markets enabled gain in production. Pangasius production increased year-on-year in some provinces."